Speakers Selected for Spring Commencement

Two award-winners, a legislator who represents The Woodlands
and a medical doctor in the public health field, will be this
spring's commencement speakers at Sam Houston State University.

Some
1,485 students have applied for degrees to be conferred in three
ceremonies, including 1,247 bachelor's, 227 master's and 11 doctoral.

The
College of Education ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 11.
The Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Business Administration
ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 12 and Criminal Justice
and Humanities and Social Sciences for 2 p. m. May 12.

Dr. Eduardo J. Sanchez

Eduardo
J. Sanchez, M. D., director of the Institute for Health Policy
of the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston,
will speak at the Friday evening ceremony.

Rob
Eissler, president of the Eissler and Associates executive recruiting
firm of The Woodlands and representative for District 15 in the
Texas House of Representatives since 2002, will speak at both
Saturday ceremonies.

Sanchez
served as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Health from
November 2001 through August 2004, overseeing an array of programs
from disease prevention, communicable disease control, and preparedness
to environmental and consumer safety as well as regulatory services.

On
Sept. 1, 2004, he became commissioner of the newly formed Texas
Department of State Health Services , which combined public health,
mental health and substance abuse. He served as commissioner
until October 2006.

Sanchez
was in active family medicine practice in Austin from 1992 to
2001. In addition, he served as health authority and chief medical
officer for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services
Department from 1994 to 1998. He played a critical role in helping
to create the Texas Association of Local Health Officials in
1997.

He
received his medical degree in 1988 from The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical School and holds master's degrees in public
health from the UT School of Public Health and in biomedical
engineering from Duke University. He also has bachelor's degrees
from Boston University in biomedical engineering and chemistry.

The
American Academy of Family Physicians presented Sanchez with
the 2005 Public Health Award for his contributions to public
health in Texas and beyond. He also received the Louis B. Russell
Memorial Award, in 2004, from the American Heart Association
for outstanding service to minority populations.

Rep. Rob Eissler

Eissler
received a B.A. in architecture from Princeton University, and
then served as a carrier-based attack pilot on the USS John F.
Kennedy in the United States Navy. He has spent 20 years in the
cause of public education, 18 of which were on the Conroe Independent
School District Board of Trustees, including two terms as president.

He has served as a Junior Achievement Teacher for The Woodlands
High School and Knox Junior High since 1993.

In
1999, he was named one of 25 "Original Hometown Heroes" for
The Woodlands by The Woodlands Villager/Courier newspapers and
The Woodlands Operating Company, L.P. The Chamber of Commerce
named him "Citizen of the Year" in 1999, where he served
as the chairman of the board in 1988.

Eissler
has also served as the president of the Woodlands Rotary Club
and as a board member of the South Montgomery Y.M.C.A. He coached
youth sports for 20 years and is well known as the one of the
voices of high school football on the local radio broadcasts
of area games.

Eissler
has been active in the campaigns of many area elected officials
and has served as campaign treasurer for Congressman Kevin Brady
since 1990. He was elected District 15 as state representative
in November of 2002.

He
is currently serving as vice chairman of the Committee on Human
Services and has been reappointed to the Public Education Committee
and the Rules and Resolutions Committee.

During
his first legislative session, he was named Legislator of the
Year by the Texas Council of Special Education Administrators.
In addition, he received the Texas Foreign Language Association's
Distinguished Public Service Award, The Texas Art Education Association's
Governmental Award for Meritorious Service in the Arts, The Texas
Music Educators Association Distinguished Service Award and the
Fighter for Free Enterprise Award by the Texas Association of
Business.

Governor
Rick Perry appointed Eissler to the State Regional Education
Board for both the 78th and 79th Legislative Sessions.

In
May 2005 Eissler was named one of the Top Texas Legislators of
the 79th Legislative Session by Capitol Inside, an online guide
to power in Texas Politics and Governmental Affairs. During the
Second Called Session of the 79th Legislative Session, he was
appointed vice chairman of the Select Committee on Public Education
Reform.

In
June 2005 he was reappointed vice chairman of the Legislative
Effectiveness Committee of the National Council of State Legislators
and was presented with the Star Award by Texans Standing Tall
in recognition of his efforts during the 79th Legislature to
reduce and prevent the consequences of underage alcohol use and
binge drinking.

Eissler
and his wife, Linda, have three adult children. They are members
of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.